Active Scilly Newsletter

Active Scilly News

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 AUTUMN 2017

WHO’S WHO New faces at Active Scilly
AT ACTIVE
SCILLY There have been a lot of Bit by bit we have been are particularly keen to

Susie Taylor: Active changes here at Active able to improve our get more classes and
Scilly Supervisor
Scilly during 2017. We services and introduce activities available for
Julie Hewlett and
Abbie Nimmo (on said goodbye to several some new ones, such our beginners and others who
maternity): Healthy
Living Assistants key members of staff in ‘gym for beginners’ session don’t currently use the

Steph the Spring. It was a very (Wednesdays, 9-10.30am.) gym or pool.
Chodkiewicz:
Healthy Living lean team for a few We’re busy making some But we still need more
Trainee months, but we’ve been changes to the way things staff, and that’s where you
steadily recruiting to key work, and have lots of can help. Please spread
Zoe Parry and positions—including Susie plans to offer more. We the word about our job
Duncan Graham: and Steph. vacancy; as you can see
Swimming Teachers
Our casual lifeguards have from the back page, it’s a
Duncan, Rhi,
Bryony, Zoe, done a sterling job of great opportunity for
Ethan, Wez, Nic,
Tamsin: Casual keeping the pool open someone who enjoys
Lifeguards
through the summer and working with people and
Ciaran, Jacob,
Emma and Sonia: autumn despite the learning new things.
Customer Hub
Assistants. staffing challenges. (l-r) Susie, Emma, Steph
These are the people
you’ll meet working New ‘unsupervised swimming’ at Normandy
on the reception at
Carn Gwaval. They A recent risk assessment at a member of staff on site at they don’t have any of the
aren’t actually Active Normandy pool has shown all times, and for much of health or mobility issues that
Scilly staff, but they that many customers would the time this person will be would make swimming at
are definitely an be safe to swim without a in the pool hall or reception these times inappropriate.
important part of our lifeguard watching them at all area, for example working at We will be asking for
wider team. times. We think that adult the computer. They will be members to complete the
Active Scilly members who keeping an eye on swimmers forms BEFORE attending
COUNCIL OF don’t have any health or while they work (particularly their first session. Active
THE ISLES OF mobility issues, are not if there is a lone swimmer in Scilly staff reserve the right
SCILLY elderly, and are competent the pool). But at times they make the final decision
swimmers fall into this might also be cleaning regarding safety.
category. somewhere on site—in a
changing room, toilet, or in We will still have a range of
This has allowed us to come the kitchen area. There is an lifeguarded sessions in the
up with a way to get the alarm/pager system timetable for anyone who
pool open more often, (poolside) that swimmers requires supervision, or
without increasing our can use to attract the does not hold annual Active
staffing costs. During member of staff in these Scilly membership. All
November, we will be circumstances. sessions involving children—
introducing ‘unsupervised open & family—will still have
swimming’ sessions to our As is currently the case for full lifeguard supervision.
pool timetable. the gym, members will be
asked to complete some Please contact Susie Taylor if
They won’t be entirely paperwork to confirm that you have questions about
unsupervised! There will be unsupervised swimming.

PAGE 2 Swimming lessons with Zoe

When Wez finished held in terms of swimming groups—ducklings,
teaching swimming for teaching on the islands. starfish, stingrays,
Active Scilly in June (in dolphins, sharks—which
order to focus on his new We needn’t have worried! covers the full range from
role at Mundesley), we all Zoe Parry, who is an ASA complete beginners up to
wondered what the future qualified swimming teacher, proficient swimmers.
has stepped into the breach
and lessons have begun on We’ve had some great
both St Mary’s and Tresco in feedback from parents and
the last few weeks. children. We aren’t able
to offer a ducklings class
Zoe brings with her a new on St Mary’s, yet, but we
style of teaching (from her hope to introduce this
former swimming club days (and offer more times
on the mainland) and we are too) in the near future.
following a slightly changed Watch this space!
programme of skill
development. There are five

“Fantastic Beginners’ bodyweight circuits: what is it?

class with  It’s all about using your bodyweight and improving core strength by repetitions
Julie. Really of exercises like squats, tricep dips, press-ups, planks and lunges.
enjoyed it.
Thank you.”  There are exercise variations and modifications to make the movements easier
or more challenging as appropriate. You choose the level that suits you best.
(comment on
Facebook)  Most sessions include 13 exercises, and you do the whole circuit twice—
either in a pair, or on your own (you choose)

 No need to book, just come along and give it a go.

Splash Tots challenge and awards scheme

We run two Splash Tots but on Monday So far, babies have been
sessions a week at afternoons Meriel from rewarded for gliding
Normandy pool, for the Children’s Services joins through the water, and
us for some guided fun, older children have learnt
under fives and skills development and to exit the water safely
their parents and often the chance to get and swim a width with a
carers. Everyone is underwater shots of your float. We are hoping that
welcome—only the little swimmers. this scheme will boost
adults pay for these confidence, extend skills
sessions, tots swim New for this winter, and show the little ones
for free. Normal Meriel has introduced the how proud everyone is
adult to child ratios Scilly Tots challenge and of their achievements.
apply (1 to 1 for awards scheme. Each There is no need to book
under 2s). week little ones of for any Splash Tots
whatever age will get the session, or ‘sign up’ for
The Thursday chance to show off their the awards scheme—just
morning session is swimming skills and get it come along and see what
an unstructured recorded on their swim it’s all about.
free-play session, chart.

ACTIVE SCILLY NEWS

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3

Active Scilly stars! Meanwhile, some of us are setting
ourselves more modest
We have some great staff here at They rose to the challenge, and challenges. Steph has been
Active Scilly—and some of them completed the event— which working to get her 4 length swim
have been taking part in crazy included 75k of swimming and time below 60 seconds, and Susie
physical challenges this summer. running in some of the roughest is working on her handstands and
conditions ever encountered by headstands!
Unless you’ve been living under a race organisers—in 13h05m. What active challenge will you set
rock, you’ll have heard about How’s that for determination? yourself this winter?
ÖTILLÖ (the swim-run race
series, which includes an event A little closer to home, another Bryony
on Scilly in July). lifeguard, Bryony Lishman, running the
completed the Atlantic Cornish
Wez Swain (casual lifeguard) and Coast challenge in coast.
his sporting partner Alison October. This involved
Stedeford did so well in the local three marathons in as
event that they were invited to many days, covering the
take part in the World Cornish coast path from
Championships in Sweden in Padstow to Land’s End.
September.

What’s new at Carn Gwaval?

We had a lovely new floor fitted but we are happy to give you Abbie Nimmo, currently on
in the Sports Hall over the contact details for the relevant maternity leave, is planning to
summer– it’s extra springy, club if you’d like to get involved. ease herself back to work by
apparently! offering an intermediate level
We also have a few new classes circuits class at 5.30-6.30 on
Since September the Hall has going on. Julie is running a Thursdays, starting on 23rd
been open for bookings again, beginners’ bodyweight circuits November.
and the diary is filling up thick class on Fridays, 5.30-6.30pm
and fast. From Badminton to (see previous page), and a Projects in the pipeline include a
Zumba, and from ‘Old men’s Saturday morning Spin and Abs guided ‘couch to 5K’ running
football’ to Aikido, there’s a club class that is pretty high intensity class, and gentle daytime games
to suit all ages and interests. and tantamount to torture, so sessions for older people.
Most aren’t run by Active Scilly, I’m told!

Parties at Normandy and The Sports Hall

Kids’ birthday parties—you The Sports Hall is also cases, your booking Keep an eye on that
either love ’em or hate ’em. available for parties. and if includes up to half an birthday cake—Susie
Either way, an Active Scilly you choose this option we’ll hour in the viewing might steal a slice!
party could be for you. throw in use of the sports area (hall) or reception
equipment for free (whole (pool) to serve up the
We’ve had a few parties at hall bookings only, please). cake or other
the pool recently and refreshments.
they’ve gone down a treat. The cost is currently £54
We provide the pool, the for the Sports Hall, and Times available for
music and the lifeguards, from £60 for the Pool (it private hire vary from
and you do the rest. will sometimes be £72 week to week, so please
Organise some games and depending on numbers and get in touch to discuss
races if you like—or just ages of children). In both your requirements.
leave them to it.

PAGE 4

Meet our new recruit: Steph Chodkiewicz

Steph joined the Active Scilly wanted to get back to the thing I What’s are the best things
team as part-time Healthy studied at college. I can combine about the job?
Living trainee in early it with looking after my two girls.
September. Having studied I like the fact that it’s varied
Sports Science at college, and How are you finding it? work, and flexible hours; it fits
working for the NHS on the well with family life. It’s good
ambulance for the last 11 years, It’s great, I love it! All the to be learning new skills, such
Steph is just the right person to training is good. I’m getting really as lifeguarding, and refreshing
help Active Scilly deliver new stuck into my Level 2 gym all the things I learned at
services and attract new trainer qualification (Steph is college.
customers. We are delighted to studying for this online), and I’ve
have her on board! Steph will been practicing my swimming for What would you say to
continue her role on the the lifeguard course happening someone thinking of
ambulance alongside her work soon. Active Scilly is evolving and applying to work at Active
with us. We asked Steph a few changing at the moment, and it’s Scilly?
questions about what it’s like nice to be a part of that. I work
to work at Active Scilly… the Wednesday morning shift at Do it!
the gym: from 7-9am for the
What made you apply for early birds, and then 9-10.30 it’s So, what’s stopping you? We
the role? a session for beginners only. are currently recruiting for
That’s a big part of what we are another Healthy Living trainee
I felt like it was the right job at doing now, trying to encourage (full or part time—see advert
the right time. I’ve always people who aren’t used to the above), and casual lifeguards.
enjoyed sport and fitness. ‘fitness’ environment. There is an See the Council website for
Having worked in lots of emphasis on getting new people full details and application
different jobs over the years, I through the door. forms.

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US AT ACTIVE SCILLY:

Sports Hall—(01720) 424373 Normandy Pool—(01720) 423645 Susie’s office (01720) 424881
@activescilly
[email protected] Active Scilly